Miracle Moments

Travel back in time with me to 1980 for my weekly trip from Orange County to Fresno, California to teach another Bible class.

I was northbound on I-5, tuned in to any assignment God might have for me when suddenly I sensed His instruction to get off and turn right at the next exit. I positioned my notepad next to me and began to write. I knew that when I “tuned in” to Him and remained open to His direction, my thoughts would be divinely directed.

Ok, then what? I was thinking. Directions came and I wrote, took the exit ramp, turned right, drove half a mile, turned right and continued. I could see myself coming to a ‘T’ where I could only turn right or left. A house would be facing me, a car parked in front with a fish sticker on the rear bumper. Then I would go to the door and ask for Mrs.____. And I was to tell her that the name is Christina, and the country is Brazil.

Ok. I drove through the neighborhood, a gentle downhill block to the T intersection. A car was parked across the street. There it was, sure enough: the fish symbol on the back bumper! I parked, walked across the lawn to the house, took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. A woman came to the door.

“Hi, my name is Phil Freeman,” I said. “I’m on my way to Fresno to teach a Bible class tonight. The Holy Spirit directed me to this house and I am looking for Mrs. ____. I have something from the Lord I am supposed to share with her.”

The lady smiled and said: “Oh, she’s our Women’s Aglow chapter president, but she’s not here. She lives up in the hills quite a distance away, but I can get her on the phone for you! Won’t you come in?”

Soon I was seated in her living room. She made the connection and handed me the phone. I told my brief story again over the phone, and the lady was ready for the message. I told her about “Brazil and Christina” and she erupted with an outburst of joy, laughter and praise! I waited for her to pause.

“Ma’am, could you please explain the significance of this word?”

“Oh, yes! You see, my husband and I have been wanting children but we’ve been unable to conceive, and God has directed us to adopt. He’s further indicated the child is not in America but in another country. But we haven’t known yet what nation, or the gender of the child. Are we looking for a boy, or a girl? And He has just given us those answers through your word!”

I thanked her and said goodbye. I also thanked the lady who so graciously made this connection possible. We talked a few minutes, and I left to continue to Fresno. My detour had taken half an hour. I would never have been able to go to the lady’s house “up in the hills” and still meet my Fresno schedule. So I enjoyed another divine encounter, another one of God’s miracle moments. Six years later, another miracle moment occurred on March 5, 1986. This memorable encounter happened on a vacant lot in the Pangasinan province of the Philippines. A long extension cord had been strung from the house next door for our one light bulb and portable sound system. There were at least fifty people present.

We proceeded that evening with ministry: our family of five singing gospel songs (a cappella), our daughter Cyndi (17) telling her Puppy Love Bible story, our son Scott (19) performing an entertaining mime.

Then I shared a Gospel message and gave an invitation for people to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, and we began to pray for those who responded.

Suddenly the murmurs of conversation ceased. Total quiet prevailed, like a holy hush, as a family carried a child forward for prayer. He was perhaps five years old. His head was lolling to the side, he was uncommunicative, his eyes unfocused, seemingly blind and deaf, his mouth open. He required constant care and had never walked or talked. He had no apparent cognitive function. He required help to be fed, clothed, and was constantly carried. Basically, he was in a vegetative state.

We offered a simple prayer in agreement with God’s purpose, and that little boy suddenly “came alive!” For the first time in his life, he could see, making eye contact with the people around him. He could control his body and keep his head up! The family and those present were ecstatic! I had a camera in a leather holster on my belt. I stepped back two steps, aimed, and engaged the shutter. Here’s that miracle moment in black-and-white!